Girls' education and gender equality are central to GPE's vision of improved learning and equity for all, through stronger education systems by 2020.

Since 2000, good progress has been achieved to boost girls' enrollment in school. However, an estimated 131 million girls worldwide remain out of school and face multiple barriers to education. These include distance to school, cultural norms and practices, school-related gender-based violence and early or forced marriage. Boys and girls face barriers to getting a good education in conflict-affected areas where safety and security can be compromised and in households that depend on their labor or income.

Keeping girls in school and ensuring they can learn in a safe and supportive environment leads to many benefits for girls themselves, their families, their communities and societies.

Increasing gender equality is one of eight guiding principles of GPE 2020, the partnership’s strategic plan for 2016-2020. Achieving increased equity, gender equality, and inclusion is one of three strategic goals under this plan.

GPE mobilizes its partners to put gender equality at the heart of national education systems

Our results

41

million additional girls were enrolled in school across partner countries between 2002 and 2016

74%

of girls finished primary school in 2015 in partner countries compared to 57% in 2002

As many

girls

as boys completed primary school in 2/3 of partner countries in 2016

48%

of girls completed lower-secondary school in 2015 in partner countries compared to 35% in 2002

GPE in action

GPE's Gender Equality Policy and Strategy 2016–2020 reflects a shift from a narrower focus on girls' education to gender equality more broadly, and includes areas where boys are disadvantaged, as well as gender issues concerning teachers, administrators and systems. Specifically, GPE supports gender equality in the following ways:

Gender-responsive education sector plans: GPE supports countries' efforts to develop, finance, and implement education sector plans that are gender-responsive. These plans include specific measures to reduce gender disparities, and make teaching and learning more responsive to the needs of both girls and boys. Improvements in the physical school environment such as separate toilets for girls and access to menstrual hygiene products are also included. Together with the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative GPE has developed guidelines to support gender-responsive education sector analysis and planning.

Policy dialogue on gender equality led by national governments and inclusive of civil society and other partners, to foster strong mutual accountability.

Tackling school-related gender based violence (SRGBV): Recognizing the prevalence of SRGBV and its impact on girls' education, GPE has funded a global literature review on SRGBV and support to four countries (Ethiopia, Zambia, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire) to better understand the nature and incidence of SRGBV, examine effective approaches to address it and support countries' design strategies and interventions.

GPE also works with partners in other sectors, including health, to promote improved health outcomes and better learning.

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The Global Partnership for Education supports 65+ developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, prioritizing the poorest, most vulnerable and those living in countries affected by fragility and conflict.